Evolve

Evolve, a 2015 FPS built on the CryEngine, presents a demanding load that clearly separates the Intel Core i5-10400F and NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1070 combination’s capabilities across resolution and quality presets. The measured data shows a system that is firmly capable at 1080p, competent at 1440p, but out of its depth at 4K Ultra, with the GPU acting as the primary bottleneck in the most demanding scenarios. This analysis breaks down the performance metrics to determine where this combo excels and where it falls short.

Resolution Scaling

The transition from 1920x1080 to 3840x2160 reveals a steep performance cliff that is classic GPU-bound behavior. At High settings, the average frame rate drops from 80.2 FPS at 1080p to 55.2 FPS at 1440p, a 31% reduction, and then plummets to 27.5 FPS at 4K, a 66% reduction from the 1080p baseline. This steep decline indicates that the rendering load at higher resolutions is overwhelming the GTX 1070’s 8 GB of GDDR5 memory and 256-bit bus, as the pixel throughput required at 4K is four times that of 1080p.

The scaling pattern is even more pronounced at the Ultra preset. Here, the system starts at 56.5 FPS at 1080p, which is already below the 60 FPS target, then drops to 40.1 FPS at 1440p and a nearly unplayable 21.2 FPS at 4K. The data shows that the GTX 1070 simply does not have the fill rate or memory bandwidth to sustain Ultra settings beyond 1080p. The 4K High result of 27.5 FPS versus the 4K Low result of 51.7 FPS further demonstrates that resolution scaling is consistent, but the absolute performance headroom is minimal.

Interestingly, the 1080p to 1440p gap is narrower than the 1440p to 4K gap. At Low settings, the drop from 1080p (131.2 FPS) to 1440p (85.7 FPS) is 34%, while the drop from 1440p to 4K (51.7 FPS) is 40%. This suggests that while the GPU is the primary limiter, the CPU’s 6 cores and 12 threads are still capable of feeding frames at the lower resolutions, but the GPU’s computational ceiling is hit hard when pixel count quadruples. The result is a combo that is best suited for 1080p and 1440p gaming, with 4K reserved for Low or Medium presets if playable frame rates are the goal.

CPU Role

The Intel Core i5-10400F’s role in this combo is to provide a stable foundation that does not bottleneck the GTX 1070 at lower resolutions. With a base clock of 2.90 GHz and a boost clock of 4.30 GHz, the processor has sufficient single-thread performance to drive high frame rates. The 3dmark_single_thread score of 688 and the cinebench_r20_singlecore score of 610 indicate a strong per-core capability, which is critical for Evolve’s game logic and physics calculations. The processor’s 6 cores and 12 threads, with a 12 MB shared L3 cache, ensure that background tasks and the game’s multi-threaded rendering pipeline have ample resources.

The data suggests the CPU is not the limiting factor at 1080p Low, where the combo achieves 131.2 FPS. This high frame rate indicates that the processor is feeding the GPU efficiently without creating a bottleneck. However, as resolution increases, the CPU’s influence wanes, and the GPU takes over as the performance limiter. The passmark_multithread score of 12115 and the cinebench_r23_multicore score of 10297 confirm that this is a capable mid-range processor, but it is not a high-end enthusiast chip. In the context of Evolve, its role is to ensure consistent frame pacing, which the data supports by showing no erratic drops in the 1080p results.

The i5-10400F’s memory support for DDR4 at dual-channel speeds and a bandwidth of 42.7 GB/s is adequate for this workload. The processor’s percentileVsAllCpus of 73 places it above the majority of CPUs, and its nearest rival, the AMD EPYC 7552, is only 0.4% ahead in average benchmark score, showing that the i5 is a strong performer in its class. For Evolve, the CPU’s 12 threads are likely underutilized, but they provide headroom for streaming and other background tasks, ensuring that the game’s frame rate remains stable even with additional system load.

GPU Role

The NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1070 is the definitive performance arbiter in this combination. Its 8 GB of GDDR5 memory, 256-bit bus, and 256.3 GB/s bandwidth are the key specifications that determine how Evolve scales with resolution and settings. The GPU’s base clock of 1506 MHz and boost clock of 1683 MHz, combined with 1920 shading units, provide a solid foundation for 1080p gaming. However, the data shows that this hardware is pushed to its limits at higher resolutions.

At 1080p Medium, the combo achieves 99.9 FPS, which is excellent, but at 4K Ultra, the average drops to 21.2 FPS. This 79% reduction in performance from 1080p Medium to 4K Ultra highlights the GPU’s memory bandwidth limitations. The 8 GB VRAM is sufficient for 1080p, but at 4K, the texture data and frame buffer demands likely exceed what the 256.3 GB/s bus can efficiently deliver, causing the observed frame rate collapse. The passmark_g3d score of 13498 and the geekbench_opencl score of 47490 confirm that the GTX 1070 is a capable mid-range card, but its nearest rivals, such as the GTX 1650 SUPER with a deltaPct of -1.4%, show that it is not a top-tier performer.

The GPU’s 64 ROPs and 120 TMUs are sufficient for the game’s rendering needs, but the pixel rate of 107.7 GPixel/s and texture rate of 202.0 GTexel/s are the metrics that limit 4K performance. The data indicates that the GPU is operating at near-maximum capacity at 1440p High, where it hits 55.2 FPS, and is clearly overburdened at 4K. The GTX 1070’s percentileVsAllGpus of 51 places it right at the median of all GPUs, which aligns with the observed performance: it is a solid 1080p card that can handle 1440p with adjustments but is not designed for 4K gaming. The fact that the GPU’s passmark_directx_12 score is only 48, while the directx_11 score is 100, suggests that Evolve’s engine, which launched in 2015, likely uses DirectX 11, where the card performs more efficiently.

Settings Recommendations

Based on the measured FPS rows, the optimal experience for this combo is at 1920x1080 with the High preset, delivering 80.2 FPS. This provides a smooth, responsive frame rate while maintaining visual quality. For players who prioritize frame rate over visual fidelity, the Low preset at 1080p offers a massive 131.2 FPS, which is ideal for competitive play. The Medium preset at 1080p, at 99.9 FPS, is a balanced choice, but High offers a better visual experience with only a 20% performance penalty.

At 2560x1440, the High preset yields 55.2 FPS, which is playable but not ideal for fast-paced action. The Medium preset at 66.2 FPS is the better option here, as it maintains a frame rate above 60 FPS while still offering decent visuals. The Ultra preset at 1440p, at 40.1 FPS, is not recommended, as it falls below the playable threshold. At 3840x2160, the Low preset at 51.7 FPS is the only viable option for a playable experience, but even this is marginal. The High preset at 4K, at 27.5 FPS, is unsuitable for gaming, and the Ultra preset at 21.2 FPS is essentially a slideshow.

The data strongly suggests that the Ultra preset is not worth the performance cost on this hardware. The difference between High and Ultra at 1080p is a drop from 80.2 FPS to 56.5 FPS, a 30% reduction, which is significant. For this combo, High settings represent the sweet spot for visual quality and performance, while Low is the best choice for maximum frame rates. Medium is a viable middle ground for those who cannot decide.

FAQ

Q: Can this combo run Evolve at 60 FPS at 1080p?

A: Yes. At 1080p High, the combo achieves 80.2 FPS, and at Medium it hits 99.9 FPS. The Ultra preset, at 56.5 FPS, is just below the 60 FPS target.

Q: What is the best resolution for this setup?

A: The data shows that 1920x1080 is the optimal resolution. At 2560x1440, the frame rates are playable but not consistently above 60 FPS, while at 3840x2160, only the Low preset reaches a playable 51.7 FPS.

Q: Is the GTX 1070 the bottleneck at 4K?

A: Yes. The frame rate drops from 51.7 FPS at 4K Low to 27.5 FPS at 4K High, clearly indicating the GPU is the limiting component. The CPU’s role diminishes as resolution increases.

Q: How does the i5-10400F compare to its nearest rivals?

A: The i5-10400F has an average benchmark score of 14168. It is 0.4% behind the AMD EPYC 7552 and 1.1% behind the Intel Core i5-8500, but it is 0.8% ahead of the AMD Ryzen 3 7320C, showing it is a competitive mid-range processor.

Q: What is the performance drop from 1080p to 4K at High settings?

A: The average FPS at 1080p High is 80.2, while at 4K High it is 27.5. This is a 66% reduction in performance, highlighting the GPU’s difficulty with 4K rendering.

Q: Should I use the Ultra preset?

A: No. The Ultra preset at 1080p yields 56.5 FPS, which is below the 60 FPS target, and at 1440p it drops to 40.1 FPS. The High preset provides a better frame rate with minimal visual difference.

Measured FPS Breakdown

At 1920x1080, the combo delivers its best results. The Low preset achieves 131.2 FPS, Medium reaches 99.9 FPS, High hits 80.2 FPS, and Ultra drops to 56.5 FPS. This resolution is clearly where the system is most comfortable, with all presets except Ultra providing a smooth experience.

At 2560x1440, performance decreases notably. The Low preset averages 85.7 FPS, Medium 66.2 FPS, High 55.2 FPS, and Ultra 40.1 FPS. The Medium preset is the only one that consistently stays above 60 FPS, making it the recommended choice for this resolution.

At 3840x2160, the system struggles. The Low preset averages 51.7 FPS, Medium 42.2 FPS, High 27.5 FPS, and Ultra 21.2 FPS. None of these results are ideal for a smooth gaming experience, and only the Low preset approaches a playable frame rate.

How This Combo Ranks

The Intel Core i5-10400F + NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1070 combination ranks 1434 out of 1695 tested combos for Evolve. This places it in the bottom 15% of all tested configurations, which is consistent with the hardware’s age and mid-range positioning. The GTX 1070’s percentileVsAllGpus of 51 indicates it is exactly average, while the i5-10400F’s percentileVsAllCpus of 73 shows the CPU is above average.

The low combo rank is primarily due to the GPU’s inability to handle high resolutions and demanding presets. While the CPU is a strong performer, the GPU holds the system back in a game like Evolve that is heavily GPU-bound at higher settings. The data shows that this combo is best suited for 1080p gaming, where it can achieve high frame rates, but it is not competitive with higher-end configurations that can handle 1440p and 4K more effectively. The rank of 1434 out of 1695 reflects a system that is functional but not optimized for the game’s highest demands.